, 1887-06-02
CHOOSING A PASTOR.

pulpit vacant.
Mr.. Barnes had labored faithfully In
their service five long years During all
this time he had preached good, If not
brilliant, sermons; attended regularly at
the prayer meeting, and made all the
pastoral calls that n mortal man, with
out a horse and buggy, could reasonably
be expected to make. And yet his con-
gregation were not satisfied. Intima-
lions finally reached the ears Of the good
man that his resignation would be re-
signedly accepted. lie sent it in, and the
papers the next day announced the grief
of the First church at the resignation Of
their beloved pastor, Mr.. Barnes, whose
wife's health forced him to seek q more
salubrious climate. ~
Whereupon it devClved upon the or
phaned congregation to choose for them
selves q pastor-a man after their own
hearts-one who should possess all the
virtues Of their late pastor, as well as
those which he lacked.
They proceeded to search for, him in
the truly orthodox way, namely, by en-
tertaining candidates. Sabbath inter
Sabbath beheld q different divine in the
pulpit. They came we know not
whence and returned we know not
whittier. They embraced overy known
type of man, from tho venerable D. d. of
three scoro and ton to the immature
theological student of 81 summers. H
The doctrine preached to that people
during the season of c%andidating was ns
v~ariegated as the patchwork silk quilt
which they presented to their late pastors
wife on her birthday. 1t shaded all the
way from Catholicism to Universalism,
and branched out into every known
ism" There was tho "old school, and
tho "new SCHOOL" old fashioned ortho-
doxy end modern free thought. There
werc ormon with strong lcanings toward
Liberalism, and there were others fraught
with Calvinism and oo=ing orthodoxy at
every pore. And thcro were scientific
sermons without end, and poetical and
philosophical one. But in oil this
variety tho people found not the man
they sought. There was some insur-
mountable objection to every candidate.
Rev. Abercombie gavo them good SER
mons, but tho college students declared
that his gestures wero ''c-ecrable'' end
would demoralizo their ''style," and
they camc en- mnsse to the church meet
ing md voted him down.
Rev, ]. Irwin Smith was youthful and
handsome, and the young ladies shed
tears of regret when tho church decided
not 10 call him. But Deacon Grimes said
his IN woro nero ''froth, and he
hoped they wouldn't, in his day, Get down
to q man who parted his hair in the mid
die.
Row. Loring was too dramatic and
threatened TO CONVEX the staid old church
into @ theatre, while good Mr.. Blakesley,
who Gcsp;Oed chow, Wa rejected because
ho didn't draw" Ono candidate was
too solemn, another too frivolous; one
was too reserved, another too common"
And co Tho spring and GUNNER came
and faded cwny, end fall was fast cmcrg-
ing into winter, and the people were
growing weary Of their search and longed
for 4 Gctlcd pastor. but no still cluded
them. AZ old Mr.. Grove cptly summed
up tho situation; "VTc'vo Ind close to q
hundred men hero TO preach for Us end
wc'vo given en- ell q fair chow, end
there hain't boon o perfect man cmong
'cm."
AT length, when expectation was well
nigh exhausted, cheering ray penetrated
The gloom of their dependency. and in
their minds eye they could eco as their
own established pastor the brilliant young
preacher who was holding audiences
spcllbound in q western city. A delega-
ton was dispatched to treat with him.
lie had Graciously consented to consider
the matter, and the whole situation was
as encouraging as it well could be. He
was to preach for them on trial the first
Sunday in December, and on the Saturday
evening previous Deacon Gilkey and his
wife were returning from a days shop
ping in Chicago. Just as the cars were
starting Mr.. Ames, another pillar in the
church, hurried in, and seeing Mr.. and
Mrs. Gilkey, dropped into the seat behind
them, the other half Of which was occu.
pied by q strange gentleman in a fur
trimmed overcoat and a sealskin cap.
Getting chilly" remarked Mr.. Ames
to Mr.. Glkey, as an introduction to con-
versation, meanwhile buttoning up his
overcoat. The remark recalled the fact
to Mr.. Gilkey, and he buttoned up his
coat and replied;
Eyes; looks o little like a storm"
Shouldn't wonder" said Mr.. Ames.
They've had five inches OF snow up
north"
lis that soP They have pretty tough
winters up there" And Mr.. Gilkey gave
his coat collar another jerk.
Suppose you'll be out to church to.
morrow" said Mr.. Ames.
'Yes, 1 presume SO, assented Mr.. Gil
key, md Mrs. Gilkey said, "'Yes, GER
tainly," with a glance at q bandbor at
her feet, which suggested the idea that 4
Chicago milliner had made assurance
doubly sure in her case. But it, Of
course, suggested no such thought to Mr..
Ames, who observed:
II guess people will turn out pretty
generally to hear our new man.
''They ought &c" said Mr.. Gikey, 'for
he seems to be about our last chance, and
/ say we'd better take him il he suits any
kind Of way" M
I've might as well shut up the church
If we don't get some n before long,"
said Mr.. Ames gloomily. There wasn't
O bakers dozen out last Sunday, and the
Halls and McAllisters have given up their
pews. Hall says he won't pay pew rent
for the sort Of preaching we've had
lately"
at needn't make any difference to him
what Kind or preaching we have; he's
never there" remarked Mrs. Gnkey,
severely.
what docs Dr.. Williams have to say
about this Mr.. Grant that's going to